Independent and Supplementary Prescribing

Find out more about our CPD courses in Independent and Supplementary Prescribing

There are many definitions of prescribing, but it usually refers to authorising the use of medicine, often by use of a written prescription.

There are two forms of prescribing in the UK; Independent Prescribing and Supplementary Prescribing:

• Independent prescribing (IP) is where a practitioner is responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for decisions about the clinical management required, including prescribing. This form of prescribing is most similar to how doctors prescribe.

• Supplementary prescribing (SP) involves a voluntary agreement between the supplementary prescriber, an individual patient, and an independent prescriber (usually a doctor). The agreement about what can be prescribed is set out in a clinical management plan.